TWO close friends who met while living and working on Ardgowan Estate in the 1950s say they look forward to seeing it become ‘a hub of activity’ again as the new distillery project progresses.
Lila McKnight, 83, and Kate MacPhail, 81, were recently invited back to Bankfoot for a tour of the site.
Kate first arrived at the estate in 1958 when her father secured a job as a butler.
Her mother was then asked to take over the cooking at the site, with Kate eventually taking up a similar role.
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She went on to marry husband Jim – a joiner who worked in the estate’s sawmill - at Ardgowan House.
Lila and her husband John, who served as head tractor man, came to live at Bankfoot in 1959.
Having stayed there for another 58 years, she admits she was nervous about the plans for the distillery initially.
Lila said: “At the beginning, I was a bit apprehensive but now, when we see the work getting done, we wish everybody the best.
“We hope that it’s a success.
“It’s nice to see the change and to see things getting done.”
Kate added: “It’s quite nice to see the joiner’s shops being retained – it’s now where the gin still is.
“That was the sawmill and the joiner’s shop was up the stairs.”
Despite not being whisky or gin fans themselves, the pair agreed their late husbands would be delighted to see the work being done at the estate.
They also hope the new distillery will help draw visitors and whisky enthusiasts to Inverclyde.
Kate said: “For somebody that doesn’t drink whisky, I counted it up and I have been at just about every distillery from Orkney right down through Caithness, Sutherland, and Inverness-shire.
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“My husband enjoyed it – he got my share of the drink as well.
“Jim would’ve thoroughly enjoyed this, and so would John.
“In spirit they’ll be here toasting it.”
Ardgowan Distillery recently awarded a £7million contract to Muir Construction for the initial phase of the distillery building.
This phase is expected to last around 12 months and will see the completion of the main production elements.
It is hoped the site will then be able to produce spirits from 2024.
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